Mariette And The Cowboy (Western Night Series 2) Read Online Free PDF

I sent him to Caleb for work!”
    “So, we weren’t supposed to give him a job?” Melissa looked confused. “If that was your plan, why didn’t you at least write us a note!”
    “Because I wasn’t thinking straight about any of it, and now he’s doing so well at the ranch, and Caleb can’t live without him, and I think I’ve fallen in love with him anyway!” Melissa put her slender arms around her friend’s shoulders.
    “You poor, silly girl. Thank the Lord you’re no brighter than the rest of us after all. I can stop being intimidated by you now!” she teased. “So, what we need to do is make sure Hardy loves you too, and he’d be a fool not to after all.” Mariette shook her head sadly.
    “It wouldn’t matter. Even if he did love me, he’s said over and over that he couldn’t even think about marriage until he has enough to offer a woman a safe, solid home. That could take him years. But, if I am carrying his child, he’ll do the right thing and then he’ll feel I trapped him into marriage. It would take away all his pride, being married to a woman like me. Let’s be honest, it would be the same for so many men. I doubt there are many as comfortable with their manhood as your Caleb, would let their wife have a career – let alone want to have her be the wealthier one by far.”
    “I see your dilemma, but are you sure he’s that adamant? Maybe it’s all bravado, have you considered he may suspect that you are using him as just a rich woman’s plaything? Maybe he might feel that you could never love someone so lowly as he, and he is putting up the barriers to protect himself for when you get bored of him?”
    “I don’t know any more, I just seem to be an emotional wreck these days. I cry, I giggle, I sob – I have thoughts I would never have entertained before. I feel that being in love with Hardy is turning me into a crazy woman!” Melissa looked at her carefully, she scanned her up and down, even walked around her. “What, what are you doing?”
    “Well, I didn’t like to say anything, but you do seem to be filling out your bodice a little more than I remembered, and being over emotional is a bit of a giveaway sign. Are your breasts tender?” Mariette nodded. “Have you noticed any foods or smells you used to love making you feel a little nauseous?”
    “I used to love the scent of coffee, and brandy – but both make me run to the water closet retching! Oh my goodness, you think I’m pregnant!” Mariette didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or just be aghast. She sank into the nearest chair, and stared at her friend. She laughed hysterically. “Oh be careful what you wish for,” she said sadly.
    “Mariette, don’t,” Melissa said firmly. “This isn’t a disaster.”
    “But how will I ever know now if he truly loves me? I’ll have to tell him. He’s a good man, will want to do the right thing. Would hate for me to be the subject of gossip.”
    “Well, you were intending to be brazen enough to go it alone without him, so I think we can delay a little while before telling him. Why not try sounding him out, see how he really feels first?”
    Mariette thought about her friend’s advice in every spare moment she had that day, though there weren’t many of them. She was just typing up the final story she had managed to ferret out ready to hand it over to Mr Cole when Melissa burst through the door. “I have our first front page story!” she cried ecstatically. “I was just chatting to Elliot in the Saloon, he said there had been some strangers in that day. They were talking about buying land nearby. Elliot didn’t want to eavesdrop – but apparently their voices carried more than they should. They want to buy up the Hunniball place, the old Catthorne steading and the Morriss’s farm. Apparently they think there are some kind of mineral deposits that are going to make them a fortune – but they don’t have any intention of telling them. Naturally I went out to see all